Tom Allon, candidate for Mayor of New York City, announced his acquisition of the political news organization, City and State Media. As a result of this purchase, Mr. Allon will withdraw as a candidate from the 2013 New York City Mayoral race. The reasons?:
“When I decided to enter the mayoral race in July, 2011, I had a deep desire to lead this wonderful and unique city and to finally fix our crumbling public education system, the single greatest cause of New York City’s jobs crisis and increasing inequality in the five boroughs.
“As a former public school teacher, it has alarmed me to watch our city’s 75,000 teachers become scapegoats for the many failings of our public education system. Even their union, in its fight against school closures and a politicized teacher evaluation system, could not clearly articulate the reason why 50 percent of its members are leaving the profession within five years.
“The real villain in the 40-year decline of public education in America is our Schools of Education, which do not provide enough clinical classroom training necessary to become a successful teacher. That problem is compounded by our Department of Education (DOE), which fails teachers again by not giving them the rigorous professional training and mentorships they require to overcome this inadequate preparation.
“I believe that with fundamental teacher training reforms we can get on the right course again. With a public school system led by great teachers in every classroom, who are relentlessly trained and given constant feedback from master teachers and principals, we can dramatically improve graduation rates, readiness for college and prepare this and future generations of students for the jobs that await them in the increasingly competitive 21st century global economy.
“While no longer a candidate, I will continue to passionately and relentlessly pursue a reform agenda as an education activist, a columnist and blogger, and parent of three teenagers.
“I have been incredibly moved and grateful for the donations and support I have received from various groups and individuals around the city, helping my voice to be heard and proving that an underdog with a tiny war chest but armed with big ideas, can amass a strong base of support and drive the public policy debate in a short period of time.
“I am deeply grateful to the Liberal Party and its leaders, State Chairman Jack Olchin and Executive Director Martin Hassner, for their early support of my candidacy. Their faith, guiding principles and knowledge of policies and programs have helped fuel my campaign’s innovative public policy ideas and I look forward to continuing my work with them in reestablishing the Liberal Party as the positive and progressive force it has been for more than 65 years in New York State.
“I entered this race in 2011 to offer the voters of New York City a choice that was different from the career politicians who at the time seemed likely to be the only Mayoral candidates in the campaign-to-come, but the equation has changed in the months since.
“I have been gratified to hear Joe Lhota, John Catsimatidis, Bill Thompson, Christine Quinn and others voice some of my education and economic development ideas and I hope the next mayor will see them to fruition.
“Our city must reverse its declining course on public education, rising unemployment and increasing inequality. The Liberal Party and I will not stop pressing for those changes. I am committed to speaking out for real education reform and a new paradigm on teacher training in the months and years ahead.”